You all may remember that sometime last year, it was announced that Michelle Ochs of Cushnie Et Ochs was separating to do her own thang. You may remember the news actually devastating us all for a bit, especially me as I sat and wondered why all of this was happening.
“Over their decade-long partnership, Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs have created a vibrant brand, unique in its bold sensuality and minimalist sophistication. As we plan for the next decade, we are realigning our organization with Carly at the helm of our leadership team, while seeking a new CEO from the marketing and merchandising world, who can further accelerate the expansion of our brand,” said a company spokeswoman. “Michelle has played an instrumental role in the creation and growth of the brand, and we wish her every success. We also thank Peter for his important contributions.”
This season, all eyes were on Carly Cushnie as she stepped to the stage (pregnant and radiating) to show her first solo venture, and man did she deliver.
Apparently inspired by Twenties’ designer Paul Poiret, the collection was decked out in evening wear — everything from slip dresses to metallic embellishments, to lots of maroons, reds, and of course, a statement fur coat. The collection was very cohesive and collective, protruding a very feminine aesthetic while still offering a bit of tenderness in a collection (proving that we can, in fact, be sensual and sexy).
I gushed over the simplicity of the makeup, models being given strong contours and a nude lip to match.The intriguing thing was that the makeup didn’t distract or add to the clothes, but rather it showed the simplicity of beauty that Cushnie has undeniably become well-known for. Jewelry was also kept to a minimum, long dangling earrings being the sole focus for many ensembles we saw down the runway.
Backstage, makeup artist Grace Lee gave us a bit of insight on the collection and the makeup (sponsored by Maybelline). “The look is really about this monochromatic, tawny terra cotta shade that’s all the right places to give the face dimension. It’s like this ‘70s vibe where the color is throughout on the cheeks, temples, eyes, and then there’s this orangey-brown lip.” Now y’all KNOW I love me an orangey-brown lip!
All I know is if this is what we can expect from Carly, I think we will continue to see a very interesting and lively career blossom from this talented designer. Also, it’s not every day we get to celebrate a black designer who walks in the main shows during NYFW, so this is automatically a win in my book.
